Friday, August 31, 2007

Malaysia celebrates 50 Years of Independence

Today, Malaysia celebrates 50 Years of Independence from Britain.

For the past few days, some of the main roads downtown were closed for parade rehearsals causing massive jams. Being the big 50 years, this year's national parade was held in the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Many locals and tourists alike thronged to where the parade was held. No, I wasn't one of them though it would be quite an experience to be there personally. The crowd and being under the hot sun for several hours are not really my idea of fun. I watched the parade on tv in the comfort of my home.

For an idea of the parade, here's a little snippet - not much to see but at least something. Happy Merdeka!

Friday Frolics: How Open Minded Are You?

I don't know about you, those of you who have done these quizzes, but I find the results pretty close to who I am - scary in a way, you know. But don't worry, they don't rule me. I won't let them. As a matter of fact, I forget the results as soon as I finish reading them. That's the beauty of being able to turn your mind off things. Bliss.




You Are 64% Open Minded



You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded.

Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints.

But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line.

You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.



More Friday Frolics

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Bon Odori


When I read about this article about the Bon Odori festival being celebrated here, I remembered that a colleague attended this celebration several years ago. She enjoyed it very much.

THE Bon Odori festival has captured the hearts of Malaysians with the crowd growing yearly. Some 30,000 are expected at the event on July 14, which is held for the 31st year here. (Pandabonium, I quoted only 10,000 in your post. Oops!)

“Bon Odori is summer time. Well, the chief purpose of the festival is not only to remember one’s deceased relatives but it is also meant to be a joyful time, celebrating and bringing family members together,” Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur Bon Odori organising vice-chairman Natsuhiko Kato said.

“It is a festival to honour the ancestral spirits who returned to his or her earthly home,” he added.

“It is a beautiful festival that is celebrated throughout the land of the rising sun. Over here in Selangor, the festival has taken a twist as it has turned into a great get-together,” he said.

“We encourage parents to bring their children as it will allow the young ones to understand and get a feel of the Japanese culture. At the same time it will be good as we want to celebrate 50 years of friendship with Malaysia,” he said.

“While you are there, just join in the dance that goes in circles around the yagura - a raised platform where the drums are placed. Wear simple, loose clothes and flat-heeled canvass shoes for comfort and appropriate when taking part in the dance,” he said.

Kato added that besides taking part in the dance, those who come also get to savour Japanese food such as kaki gori (Japanese ais-kacang), oni giri (rice balls), fried rice, fried noodles and ice cream.

Source: The Star


Pandabonium has a great post on Bon Odori. Read and see how it is being celebrated in Japan.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Pocahontas

Pocahontas is one of my favorite cartoons. I thought it's a beautiful story that Disney concocted but little did I know that Pocahontas really did exist.

According to The Learning Kingdom, a site I subscribed a few years ago, Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan, chief of the Algonquian Indian tribes. In 1614, while a prisoner of English settlers in Jamestown, Pocahontas married colonist John Rolfe. Their marriage brought temporary peace between settlers and Native Americans. In 1616, Pocahontas went with Rolfe to England where she died, probably due to a respiratory illness. She was 22 years old.

Below is a picture of Pocahontas, quite different from what we know from the cartoon, don't you think?




More about Pocahontas.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Get Taps for Much Less

The advantage of shopping online is that you get to see all items pictured nicely and in adequate detail. I believe online stores are more well-stocked than the little neighbourhood store. Online shopping also allows you to shop from home, thus saving you time and parking woes.

Take for instance, shopping to outfit your bathroom, Taps4Less.com has more items and a wider selection of bathroom paraphernalia from taps to bathroom accessories, bathroom suites to bathroom furniture, bathroom cabinets, baths, bath tubs, bathroom enclosures, shower valve, and more.

My favorite item has to be the Corner Whirlpool Bath. After a long day, it would be just perfect to spend some quiet relaxing moments in such bath. Taps4Less stocks more than 4000 products! They don't call themselves The Bathroom and Kitchen Superstore for nothing.

Taps4Less provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee and they accept all major credit cards. If you're in mainland UK, it's even better because they deliver for free.If you're looking for kitchen taps and kitchen sinks, you're in the right place as these items are right now among their Best Buy items. At Taps4Less, that's what it is, you pay less for taps (and others).

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Want to Learn Hypnosis from A Real Coach?

What do you know or how much do you know about hypnosis? In movies, we normally see the hypnotist (most times, he's the baddie) dangling a pendant from a chain in front of the one who is about to be hypnotised. We then see him or her doing the bad things he or she is being told (controlled) to do.

Did you know that there is hypnosis and there is real hypnosis? Real hypnosis provides you with an ability that allows you to HEAL anyone of long-standing fears and problems in just a few minutes. It also provides you an ability that allows you to CONTROL another person's thoughts – EVEN during regular day-to-day conversations! And, it also has the ability that allows you to change your OWN thought patterns instantly – literally drop bad habits, improve your brain, anything, in an INSTANT!

Not anyone is able to teach or willing to share the secrets of Real Hypnosis. I recently came across online, a Hypnosis Coach that shares the secrets in his powerful online guide. Dr Michael Masterman has worked in the self-development community now for over 26 years and has trained with some of the best, including Tony Robbins, the late Earl Nightingale, Bradley Thompson and Dr Richard Bandler. He has been running his hypnotherapy business for over eight years.

Dr Masterman is the best-selling author of "The Speed Reading Secret" and "The Cheat's Guide to Instant Genius," and even helped produce the powerful Motivator software.

Want to learn hypnosis and discover the TRUTH behind hypnosis – what it is and how it works or uncover the myths of hypnosis or learn the simple hypnosis formula you'll never forget? Then check out the powerful hypnosis guide on:

http://www.hypnosiscoach.com/

You'll be glad you did.

8 Simple Steps to Combat Debt











Debt...ooh that scary little four-letter word. Scary in the sense of burdensome. Debt comes in many forms. These days, debt usually comes more in the form of credit card balances. Of course, some of us are wise enough to stay debt-free, card-wise, that is.

In debt and wanna get out of it? Learn from these 8 simple steps...

Step 1: Separate "Bad debt" and "Okay debt"

Step 2: Don't Pay by Their Rules

Step 3: Get Intimate with Your Visa

Step 4: Play the Heavy with Your Existing Lenders

Step 5: Shop Around for a Better Deal

Step 6: Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Step 7: Be Prudent

Step 8: Resolve to Spend Less Than You Make

Saturday, August 25, 2007

What kind of Mailbox do you have?

The other day, a friend sent pictures of some very nice and creative mailboxes found in the U.S. Over here, we have the standard type of single-unit mailboxes and they have to be in the standard color, red. The only difference is the size, either the regular unit or slightly bigger, some with a barrel-like receptacle at the base where rolled-up printed matter can be slotted into. As for apartments, there's the standard cbu mailboxes which are normally the aluminium type. So much for creativity and aesthetics.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Friday Frolics: What Kind of Flirt Are You?

OMG!! This isn't true of me. Me? A Natural Flirt? lol



You Are a Natural Flirt




Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt.

And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting.

Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt.

And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!



More Quizzes

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Women! Know Your Rights!

There are laws enacted to protect us, men, women and children, but sadly, how many of us really have access to them? Here's a case in point. Got this from a girlfriend and it is very enlightening. All women should know about this. This law is probably applicable to Malaysia and in light of the escalating crime rate, it is good to know this one in particular. Women, please take note and pass it along.

Something for us to know.....

I was talking with a lawyer friend of mine. We were discussing the law and women`s rights. She told me about this incident - a young girl was raped by a man posing as a plain clothes officer ; he asked her to come to the police station when she and her male friend didn't have a driver`s license to show. He sent the boy off to get his license and asked the girl to accompany him to the police station. Took her instead to an isolated area where the horrendous crime was committed.

Infact, the law clearly states that between 6 pm and 6am , a woman has the right to REFUSE to go to the Police Station, even if an arrest warrant has been issued against her. It is a procedural issue that a woman can be arrested between 6pm and 6 am, ONLY if she is arrested by a woman officer and taken to an ALL WOMEN police station. And if she is arrested by a male officer, it has to be proven that a woman officer was on duty at the time of arrest.

It is good for us to know our rights. To what extent it comes of use remains to be seen in any situation. But as they say, knowledge is power.


Pass it along.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Watch out!!

A collision with a buffalo caused a train ride I was on to be delayed by about an hour a few years ago. It was a night-train and I was on the way back from Singapore.

Over here in Malaysia, buffaloes crossing the road or railway tracks have caused many an accident. A colleague lost an eye travelling at night with his family in the east coast.

I wonder in other countries, what animals are encountered? Perhaps, these?



Picture source unknown

Home Furniture



Are you looking for furniture but do not have the time to go shopping? There's this home furniture site I found that has a good selection of furniture for the home.

The site is easy to navigate. What I like about this site is that all items are clearly listed and product information is clear and descriptive which makes it easy to picture. Plus, the site includes customer testimonials for that added assurance.

Furniturefromhome.com makes it easy to find what you want. They have categories for Bedroom Sets, Living Room Sets, Dining Room Sets, Home Office Furniture, and Leather Furniture. To highlight new items, they even have a section on New Items and if you want to know what's on sale, you can go to their Sale section.

If you are looking for furniture for the bedroom, they now have on Sale the Wellington Solid Wood Bedroom Furniture Set which is described as "Quality Bedroom Furniture made of solid hardwood. New with a warm brown/cherry finish. This beautiful Spanish style bedroom set features a solid wood panel headboard and footboard, ..." See what I mean about clear product information?

The trend these days is to outfit the home with flexible and multi-function furniture so that the pieces can be moved around for a different style and look each time as well as double up for added functions. Take this Brown Leather Sleeper Sectional sofa set, for instance. This soft and comfortable sofa set has all of the bells and whistles! Accompanied by a comfortable chaise lounge for big brother, two recliners for mom and dad, standard seating for the little ones and a sleeper sofa for overnight guests.

Want something specific? The site allows for an advanced search where you can search by Room, Style or Color and you can further limit your search to specific items in their lists. This feature is really helpful.

Ordering is easy. Call toll-free for their prompt and friendly service.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Through a Rapist's Eyes

When I first saw the subject of the email, "Through a Rapist's Eyes", I was instantly turned off but am I glad I continued reading. It turned out to be something useful, really useful for women, and guys too to be forwarded to their women friends and family members. This information is way too important not to be passed along, so please pass it along. Kudos to whoever compiled this information.


A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts :

1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed . They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair . Women with short hair are not common targets.

2) The second thing men look for is clothing . They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly . Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

3) They also look for women on their cell phone , searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5: 00am . and 8: 30a.m.

5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots . Number two is office parking lots/garages . Number three is public restrooms .

6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.

7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years

8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.

10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question , like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out here", "we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.

11) If someone is coming toward you , hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK ! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back . Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

13) If someone grabs you , you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmart ing them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD . One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it hurts.

14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN . I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he's out of there.

15) When the guy puts his hands up to you , grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible . The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

PLEASE READ THEN FORWARD THIS TO EVERY WOMAN YOU KNOW, IT'S SIMPLE STUFF BUT IT COULD SAVE HER LIFE

Terminology

Terminology.... strictly not for medical students...
Which one is your favorite?


Antibody - against everyone

Artery - The study of the paintings.

Bacteria - back door to a cafeteria.

Caesarean section - a district in Rome.

Cardiology - advance study of poker playing.

Cat scan - searching for lost kitty.

Chronic - neck of a crow.

Coma - punctuation mark.

Cortisone - area around local court.

Cyst - short for sister.

Diagnosis - person with slanted nose.

Dilate - the late British Princess Diana.

Dislocation - in this place.

Duodenum - couple in blue jeans.

Enema - not a friend.

Fake labour - pretending to work.

Genes - blue denim.

Hernia - she is close by.

Impotent - distinguished/well known.

Labour pain - hurt at work.

Lactose - people without toes.

Lymph - walk unsteadily.

Microbes - small dressing gown.

Obesity - city of Obe.

Pacemaker - winner of Nobel peace prize.

Proteins - in favour of teens.

Pulse - grain.

Pus - small cat.

Red blood count - Dracula.

Secretion - hiding anything.

Tablet - small table.

Ultrasound - radical noise.

Urine - opposite of you're out.

Varicose - very close.


Source unknown

Monday, August 20, 2007

The Itemized Bill

Some people believe that Luck is actually 1% Inspiration and 99% Perspiration. What then constitutes Inspiration and what Perspiration? Below is an interesting story.


A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do.

After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed. A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for $10,000. "What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!" So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The old man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer...... ......... . $ 2.00

Knowing where to tap......... ........$ 9,998.00


Lesson to be learned : Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.


Source of article unknown

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Executive Desks and Feng Shui



Did you know that the Feng Shui of a desk does have a bearing on the user? I once read that a CEO of a company was advised to raise his desk higher than usual for his own good luck and the company's. He and his company are both doing very well.

Personally, I should think that executive desks need to be practical with a clean business look. Matching cabinets and meeting table would complete a professional executive desk.

Box Cutters

Just like the phrase, there's a time and place for everything, I think it also rings true for the right tool for the right job. Recently, a girlfriend had to move house and I helped her unpack. Her personal effects were packed in quite a number of carton boxes and all securely taped with strong masking tape. Luckily she bought a few box cutters which made cutting open the boxes a cinch. A pair of scissors would not have been so efficient, I think. I'll have to invest in some myself.

A Little Pleasure


Hands up, those of you who love books and reading. All of you? Fantastic! Me too, though I know I don't read enough.

When I go to a mall, one of the stores I look forward to or I light up at the sight of, is a bookstore. I'm sure I'm not alone as each time I step into one, there would be hordes of others so engrossed in whatever they are reading that to them the world simply does not exist. Indeed, one of the little pleasures in life - being able to indulge in something you love doing and being lost and not having a care in the world, momentarily!

Friday, August 17, 2007

Friday Frolics: What Sort of Artist Should You Be?

When I come across beautiful paintings or breathtaking scenery and landscapes, I sometimes regret not having the talent of an artist, a painter to be exact, to be able to capture the beauty on a canvas. And when I got the results of this little quiz, I was amazed. So, I do have some inclination to being a painter afterall.




You Should Be a Painter



You have the vision, patience, and skill to bring your unique visions to canvas.

And you're even tempered enough not to cut your ear off in the process!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Las Vegas has the Most Expensive Hotel Room in the World

I have always enjoyed reading up on places to know more about them. Travel news provides me with much pleasure. Probably why I like watching Discovery and Travel Channels.

Ratestogo.com with the latest travel and hotel news around the world, would fit perfectly as a travel site I would visit and use as a travel guide. What's great about this site is that it even recommends suitable hotels available and best of all, you can make bookings directly.

I read with interest their article on the Ice Hotels. I didn't know there are so many of them and each with their own unique features. The site's suggestion of Six All Time Favorite Games For Travelling would give any parent some peace while the kids entertain themselves.

Did you know that the most expensive hotel room in the world is in the US? You thought it's in Dubai, didn't you? I learned it from Ratestogo that the most expensive hotel room in the world is the $40,000 a night Hugh Hefner’s sky villa at Palms Hotel in Las Vegas which tops the list as the most expensive luxury accommodation for 2007 though Hef himself has only stayed there once. I wonder which lucky Playmate got to play with him.


Talk about Las Vegas, how much do you know about Las Vegas?

According to Wikipedia, the area was previously settled by Mormon farmers in 1854 and later became the site of a U.S. Army fort in 1864, beginning a long relationship between southern Nevada and the U.S. military. Since the 1930s, Las Vegas has generally been identified as a gambling center as well as a resort destination primarily targeting adults. Relatively inexpensive real estate prompted a residential population boom in the Las Vegas Valley in the 1990s and continues to the present day.

The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is a 4 mi (6.7 km) section of Las Vegas Boulevard South that has been designated an All-American Road. Only part of The Strip is located within the city limits of Las Vegas, Nevada: the section north of Sahara Avenue. The section south of Sahara Avenue is in Clark County's unincorporated Township of Paradise, Nevada. Many of the largest hotel, casino and resort properties in the world are located here on The Strip.

In 2007, the Las Vegas brand was the second most-recognized brand behind Google. In 2005, the valley hosted 34.7 million visitors.
Are you part of this statistics?

Delightful Party Favors

Party Favors are a fun way to thank your guests for coming to your celebration. The possibilities are endless. The wide selection from All in One Fun Favors will have you spoilt for choice. Yu can find favors that include candles, photo frames, bottle stoppers, card holders, glass coasters, Photo Mint Tins and many more - all of which are pretty and elegant.

There are favors for just about any occasion - birthday party, bridal shower, baby shower, anniversary, Christening, corporate promotion, graduation, holiday, wedding, etc. How would you like to surprise your guests with an Asian-themed favor such as a Perfect Pair of Chopsticks? They have them too

Generally, favors are more inclined for women, but if you want to be sure that the men at your event will appreciate their favor as well, choose from their special selection of Favors for Men that are a little less feminine than the rest. But that’s not to say that the ladies won’t enjoy them too.

You really will be spoilt for choice at the varieties available. Tea and Coffee favors, anyone? See what I mean? Your guests will be pleasantly surprised and delighted by your choice of favors and they will always remember the enjoyable time they spent at your party.

Copy & Paste

At a training program for top management.

A well-known motivational speaker gathering the entire crowd's attention, said, "The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman who wasn't my wife!"

The crowd was shocked!

He followed up by saying, "That woman was my mother!"

The crowd burst into laughter and he gave his speech, which was well received.

About a week later, one of the top managers who had the training decided to use that joke at his house. He tried to rehearse the joke in his head. It was a bit foggy to him.

He said loudly, "The greatest years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman who was not my wife!"

Naturally, his wife was shell shocked, murmuring.

After standing there for almost 10 seconds trying to recall the second half of the joke, the manager finally blurted out "... and I can't remember who she was!"

As expected, he got the thrashing of his life!


Moral of the story: Do not copy if you cannot paste

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Boat Insurance


There is certainly something about the sight of passing boats, yachts or ships. I know I will never ever get tired of such a view as beautiful as a marina or a harbor.

Not many people own boats. I'd love to, but I don't. If you do, I'm sure you would have it appropriately insured for every situation. If you are looking into making a switch, you may want to have your boat insurance policy underwritten by the reputable Lloyd's of London. They have an experienced team of insurance specialists to provide a fast and efficient service.

Getting a quote is easy. You can get it online on covermyboat.com. Most insurance policies are instantly approved, sometimes they require up to 24 hours to supply an accurate boat insurance quote for older or more valuable vessels.

The site is a valuable resource for boat news and information such as boat courses available and what to look for when chartering a boat, tips on buying a boat, boat etiquette and many others.



Like this wallpaper? There are other beautiful ones on the site. Pick one you like and have it installed as a desktop.

Where to Find the Best Automobile Insurance Policies

It is only natural that when supply of goods and services exceeds demand, consumers are the ones having an advantage. Take automobile insurance policies for instance. Advantage Auto Quotes sells all types of car insurance including liability insurance, commercial policies, student policies, bad record, good record. The best part is, they work closely with well-known companies like AIG, Allstate, Kaiser Permanente, and Liberty Mutual as well as smaller companies like Response Insurance, The Hartford, and Nationwide to provide you with the best available auto insurance plans at the best rates.

Selecting an automotive insurance company can be an overwhelming task, with hundreds of companies competing for your business. Advantage Auto Quotes can guide you through the process and help you select the type of coverage needed for your vehicle by putting you in touch with car insurance companies that will give you the most competitive rates available.

By just filling out one simple form, you can receive multiple quotes on all types of automotive insurance policies. Whether you are looking for coverage for your sports car or looking for a teen driver auto policy, you will be able to save money with the multiple insurance quotes online service.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Perfume? I think not!


Can you imagine the smell of cheap perfume and the headache it gives when you are exposed to it for an extended period?

That's exactly what I was going through the whole day. Only thing is, it's not from perfume but from this plant. Nature's gift indeed! I've been swooning with this lingering fragrance, if you want to call it that.

Apparently, these flowers are a rare treat as the plant is not known to flower often. Should I be thankful then?! Oh well...!!

Btw, this sequence of pictures was taken over several weeks. What wouldn't bloggers do!

Is your garage properly lit?


Most homes here mainly use fluorescent lighting though more and more homes are moving away from it. However, fluorescent lighting is still needed in some parts of the home, like the garage, for instance.

Those of you who spend a lot of time tinkering in this part of the home, would welcome good lighting to do your thing. There are many types of garage lighting. There is one that has a piece frame lens diffuser which gives soft smooth appearance and plenty of light for your garage. Yet another has a baked white enamel finish with a slim low profile design ideal for low ceilings. Then there is the type that can be ceiling- or wall-mounted and the diffuser is easily removable for lamp replacement.

Need lighting to see under the hood of the car? No worries, as there is available an underhood LED garage light. Now, isn't that convenient? Then there is the cordless garage light. The swivel hook design allows the light to be positioned in any direction. And of course, there is the sky-light for other evening illumination.

If you are looking into making an order, don't forget to click on the Instant Coupon for a discount. Happy shopping!

50 Things Malaysian


Malaysia will be celebrating her 50th year of nationhood come August 31. Preparations are in place for a grand celebration nationwide. Everywhere you go, you see decorations and other forms of commemoration, the most common being the Malaysian flag either hoisted on flagpoles, flown from balconies of apartments, on vehicles, etc. Even the malls are having their Merdeka Sale. The dailies are doing their usual call of duty of reminding the people of this important national event.

In the joyous spirit of Merdeka, The Star asks fellow citizens to think of the things that we share and love, that we all know to be Malaysian by look, taste, smell or sound. They are looking for 50 things to make our definitive list, the things that define Malaysia.

Below is the current list of suggestions so far. I submitted a few the other day. Let's see if they get included. The list is still being fine-tuned, so if you think you have better suggestions, why not contribute to the list.

50 Things Malaysian

Food
01. Nasi lemak
02. Nasi kandar
03. Roti canai
04. Teh tarik
05. Kajang Satay
06. Ramly Burger
07. Char koay teow
08. ABC (air batu campur)
09. Rojak
10. Yee sang

Expressions
11. Lah
12. Maachan
13. Brudder
14. Ta pau
15. Cin-cai
16. Aiyo
17. Malaysia Boleh
18. Yam seng

Personalities
19. Tunku Abdul Rahman
20. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
21. Tan Sri P. Ramlee
22. Sudirman
23. Mat Rempit
24. Ah Long
25. Lat

Buildings & Places
26. Genting Highlands
27. Penang Bridge
28. Putrajaya
29. Sepang International Circuit
30. Petronas Twin Towers
31. Mount Kinabalu
32. KL International Airport
33. Chow Kit Road
34. Malacca
35. Dataran Merdeka
36. 24-hour Mamak stall
37. Pasar malam

Culture and Others
38. Proton
39. Balik kampung
40. Open house
41. Baju kurung
42. Longhouse
43. Baba-Nyonya
44. Malaysian hospitality
45. “Malaysian time”
46. Joget
47. MyKad or identity card
48. Unclear road signs
49. Vision 2020
50. Ang pow in many colours

Monday, August 13, 2007

A Source for Cheap Printer Ink

We just had a PC Fair some weeks back. This annual affair is usually packed with people looking for bargains on PCs, printers, peripherals, and other electronic paraphernalia. A friend replaced his home printer with one he bought at the PC Fair.

Printers are cheap these days but their ink cartridges are a different story though. Due to the high prices, imitation ink cartridges have a ready market. However, users have to forego quality as well as running the risk of exposing their printer to premature wear and tear.

If you are looking for cheap UK printer ink and brand name compatible inkjet cartridges such as Ink Rite, Jet Tec and Print-Rite, then you might want to check out this store, inkcartridgesdirect.org.uk/. They stock original and compatible inkjet cartridges, laser toners and printer ink. Their range includes HP, Epson, Canon, Dell, Lexmark and Xerox. Comparing their prices and that of ours here, their cartridges are cheaper on all counts. If you are in the UK, they deliver free of charge on all orders.

Good Morning!













Today is one of those blue skies, sunny KL mornings, so thought I'd post something lovely to start off the week.

Isn't he lovely? Isn't he wonderful?
















Source of picture unknown

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Staying healthy and well the natural way


"Somewhere, in our quest for "perfect medicine", we have lost the correct definition of health and seem content to accept obesity, pain, stress, depression, disease, fatigue, etc. as a normal part of the aging process and thus continue in habits that feed these problems."

These are the words of Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP who founded Oasis Advanced Wellness which was set up in order to help meet the needs of those looking for natural/alternative health care alternatives without using drugs, surgery or radiation.

As a cancer survivor using natural medicine, Dr. Lanphier developed a driving desire to help people get well and stay well. She is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease.

OAW provides women and men with up-to-date education and information concerning total health and well-being. There is a host of up-to-date information and tools available to totally educate towards the goal of total health and well-being. Their Health Knowledge Base covers topics ranging from aging to allergies, breast cancer to chidren's health to enzymes, from healthy oils to PMS relief to soy dangers to Vitamins.

To add on to this great resource, the site also offers many free health tools from recommended reading list to tooth meridian chart to free e-books. If you need more information, you can sign up for their newsletter or join their natural health forum...a community for health-conscious readers to share ideas with other like-minded people

And remember to check out their natural health products and natural health supplements - all fresh inventory replenished almost weekly and stored in ionic air purification 24 hours/day.

Lastly, look what I found on their Natural Health Blog, something about dreaming lofty dreams. It is natural to dream, is it not? This is an awesome video but view it at your own risk for it may cause goose-bumps and even tears. Yes, everything in life happens for a reason and we emerge as better persons in the end.

A little intro about the video: Paul Potts was a cell-phone salesman who dreamed of spending his life doing what he feels he was born to do. Watch him as he takes a huge step toward that dream.

Memories are made of these too - Wedding Favors



A wedding is a sweet and memorable event in one's life. Naturally, the bride and groom would want their special day to be remembered by family and friends for as long as possible. What better way to make that possible than by giving away pretty and lasting wedding favors that everyone would treasure and keep.

If you are planning your wedding, you may want to check out Little Things Wedding Favors. They have in stock over 2,600 quality wedding favors, wedding accessories and wedding party favors. There is something for every budget.

Little Things Wedding Favors has been serving happy customers since 2003. Besides their huge selection of Wedding Favors, they offer 100% Satisfaction Guarantee; Easy return policy with no restocking fee; and free shipping on orders above $250.00.

Currently, they are holding a monthly prize drawing where you stand to win a gift certificate for $100.00 toward the purchase of wedding favors or wedding accessories. Also, for every purchase of a minimum $50.00 with coupon code (grandopening), you will receive a 10% discount. Wait, there is more. Sign up for their newsletter and get $10.00 off your next purchase.

Little Things Wedding Favors, Big on Memories!

Finding the right Cabinet Hardware

Decisions. Decisions. A colleague recently redid her entire kitchen and replaced the cabinets with those of a reputable European brand. Before the installation, she and her husband made numerous trips to the sales office to pick out and confirm their choices of the desired cabinet hardware, color, etc. etc. It was a rather drawn-out affair of a good many months, according to her, but looking at the results, I'd say it was all worth it.

Berndes Cookware






I am not good at selling stuff. That's why no one has been successful in getting me to join any MLM business. Heck! I can't even sell myself! lol
Anyway, I'm off to a cooking demonstration this evening. Well, not really a demo per se. A friend is so much into cooking that she has a grand collection of cooking utensils. You name the brand, she's got it. She recently bought a set of berndes cookware and is giving the utensils a good tryout. Lucky me, I get to partake in the fruits of her labor this evening. *happy*

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Animal masks and concerts

Last weekend, I attended a kindergarten concert. No, not my kid's but a girlfriend's little boy. She wanted some company so I agreed to tag along. It was really fun and amusing seeing the little darlings going through their routines. The act I enjoyed most was the jungle sketch in which the kids wore animal masks and costumes. Sure brought back memories of schooldays.

Lose weight the healthy way with Myfitnesspal

Most of us are lucky. We can eat just about anything without having to worry about calories, that much-dreaded of all things yummy. For those of us who are less lucky and who are on a food diet, it can be quite a hassle having to balance calories and nutrients in order to ensure a well-balanced diet.

Perhaps something like a calorie counter would be useful. Myfitnesspal.com, a free diet and fitness website, has a free calorie counter. Their calorie counter is fast and easy to use and will teach you the nutritional contents of what you are eating, and consequently, how you can make better food choices.

Myfitnesspal is indeed a useful site for everyone and especially so for weight-watchers. Their food database whose items are listed in alphabetical order is a wonderful nutrition guide. You can find just about any food in the database.

You can join their forums to exchange notes, get support, or get tips from others who share the same interests. You can also get more information by signing up for their e-newsletter. Lose weight the healthy way with Myfitnesspal.

How do you remind yourself?

How do you remind yourself about deadlines, birthdays, anniversaries or other important events in your life? We all have our individual methods, don't we? All sorts of tools come to mind - the good old-fashioned diary or organizer, electronic gadgets such as the PDA, etc. I wonder what methods do insurance agents use because they are so good at following up with their clients be it term insurance, auto insurance or medical insurance.

Radar detectors

I have heard friends complaining that the interstate speed limit is sometimes too low and that they tend to feel sluggish at that slow a speed. The speed limit at certain stretches of the highway is 90km/hr and at most 110km/hr. A friend who loves to speed on the highway once installed a radar detector in his car. He brought it in from the US because radar detectors are not sold here as they are illegal.

Craft Storage


Are you collectors of bags or passionate about being orderly? Or perhaps your hobbies involve craftwork? We all know that crafts require tools and materials. To make it easier to store and locate the tools and materials, having an organizer as Craft Storage would help a great deal.

Organizers can come in various forms. One form is in an organizer bag. Yazzii organizers are specially designed to hold craft tools and materials. Their investment in research and development has yielded many leading edge designs. Their products are elegant, practical and are available in a variety of fabrics that will appeal to all women of all ages looking for something special.

Their bags are great travelling companions for women on the go as they hold and protect personal items in great style. Their see-through panels are a hallmark of Yazzii organizers. Beware of imitations though. Yazzii bags are so popular that they are being copied but they are merely cheap imitations.

Apartment Living

Recently, a friend from overseas moved into Dua Residency. His is a rented premise. Dua Residency is one of the latest apartments in the city of Kuala Lumpur. It is in the vicinity of the Singapore and Japan Embassies and is roughly a mile away from the KLCC where the Petronas Twin Towers are located. Rental in such a choice real estate in the city must be relatively high. Apartment-living is common among expats, mainly for security reasons.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Under Foot – Quality Trade Show Flooring

While it's always important to have an impressive trade show display, it's also important to remember the little things about your display. Top quality trade show flooring is just as important as the display, and I think you'll be happy you went with Modern Day Displays to get yours. They have the best selection of flooring for all of your trade show displays.

Stocks plunge

Share markets around the world are taking a beating. Japanese shares plunged almost 450 points in morning trade Friday following a sharp fall on Wall Street overnight, sparked by fears about a spreading credit crunch.

In Kuala Lumpur the benchmark Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) eased 22.34 points at 1,291.05.

Hong Kong's blue chip Hang Seng Index was down 3.0 percent midday at 21771.94.

Singapore's Straits Times Index was down 3.4 percent at 3298.88.

The Phillipine benchmark index was also off 3 percent, and the standard market measure in Australia was down 2.8 percent.

Source..The Star

Friday Frolics: A Simple Test

Time just flies by. Friday is here again and time for yet another blog frolic. A simple test, this one, which you might have come across. If this is your first time seeing it, enjoy it.

Below are four questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time, answer all of them immediately.

Let's find out just how clever you really are....


Ready? GO!!! (scroll down)












First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~











Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are
absolutely wrong. If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second.


Now answer the second question.


Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
(scroll down)







~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~











Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. How can you overtake the LAST Person?


You're not very good at this, are you?












Third Question:
Very tricky arithmetic. Note: This must be done mentally only.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Let's go.



Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000
Now add 10. What is the total?


Scroll down for answer.....









~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Did you get 5000 ?

The correct answer is actually 4100.



If you don't believe it, check it with a calculator!
Today is definitely not your day, is it?
Maybe you'll get the last question right....
....Maybe.



Fourth Question:

Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini,
4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?







~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you Answer Nunu?
NO! Of course it isn't.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again.



Okay, now the bonus round:

A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

Next, a blind man comes into the shop to buy a pair of sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~










He just has to open his mouth and ask...
It's really very simple.... Like you!









PASS THIS ON TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. I just did?! :D

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Working Overseas

The Star newspaper has recently increased its price for the Saturday and Sunday editions to RM1.50 from RM1.20 earlier. A good many pages are dedicated to Classifieds, mainly job vacancies. Yet, there are many people who are still jobless. Even graduates for that matter are still looking out for that dream job and would rather not try for other 'unsuitable' jobs.

Perhaps, they need to consider jobs overseas. Singapore is a good place to look. It's closeby to home. Maybe in New Zealand or England. How about Scotland? There are plenty of jobs in Edinburgh and it's a beautiful city I heard.

Like anywhere around the world, jobs available in Edinburgh include in the field of computing, finance, admin, marketing, teaching, restaurants and hotels, construction and many more. Even part-time, evening or weekend general jobs are available.

Grandma's Boyfriend

A five- year-old boy went to visit his grandmother one day. He was playing with his toys in her bedroom, while grandma was dusting. He looked up and said,
"Grandma, how come you don't have a boyfriend?"

Grandma replied, "Honey, my TV is my boyfriend. I can sit in my bedroom and watch it all day long. The TV evangelists keep me company and make me feel so good. The comedies make me laugh. I'm very happy with my TV as my boyfriend."

Grandma turned on the TV, and the reception was terrible. She started adjusting the knobs, trying to get the picture in focus.

Frustrated, she started hitting the backside of the TV hoping to fix the problem.

The grandson heard the doorbell ring, so he hurried to open the door, and there stood Grandma's minister.

The minister said, "Hello, son, is your grandma home?"

The little boy replied, "Yeah, she's in the bedroom bangin' her boyfriend."

The minister fainted.

Clever, very clever

This is really good! Someone out there either has too much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble. (Wait till you see the last one.)


DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM


PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER


ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER


DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT


THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE


GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE


THE MORSE CODE :
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS


SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME


ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY


ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT


SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z'S


A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
I'M A DOT IN PLACE


THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE


ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE



AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER


Yep! Someone with way too much time on his hands!
(Probably a son-in-law).

Monday, August 6, 2007

Not all bloggers are stupid

This is a fair and realistic view of bloggers at large. I quote below from our Information Minister, Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin on bloggers.


KUALA LUMPUR: Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin says not all bloggers are stupid as some of them are informative, knowledgeable and disseminate positive views on current issues.

The ones that were mostly goblok (stupid, in Indonesian) were political bloggers who float rumours and create hatred among the people, he said yesterday.

He said political bloggers "blatantly abused the freedom of the Internet."

"Readers of these blogs read them to pass time and for fun, akin to reading a ghost story. The people must be able to distinguish between goblok bloggers and bloggers," he added. – Bernama

Source: The Star

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Maui condos











Are you planning for your next vacation? How about a Pacific paradise Hawaii travel for an ecotourism experience?

Ecotourism is nature and culture based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well-being of local communities in that they promote a tourism industry that is environmentally and culturally sensitive. Operators ensure that the negative impact on Hawaii's natural environment, cultural heritage and local communities is minimised at the same time maximising the positive impact.

These days, staying in villas is the new vacation trend as opposed to staying in the larger impersonal hotels. Villas are perfect for people who are seeking a truly relaxing, private and comfortable vacation. If travelling in a group, staying in a vacation home would provide convenience and more flexibility as well as being more cost-effective as you can buy your own food and prepare your own meals.

No matter whether it's Maui condos or other condos you are looking for, you will be able to find the condo of your choice on websites like HawaiianBeachRentals.com. They can find you the perfect accommodation for you to achieve the maximum pleasure from your environmentally-friendly Hawaii vacation.

Why Get a Payday Loan?

I am not sure whether banks here provide payday loans but I do know that one can apply for a payday loan online. A payday loancan be used to meet virtually any financial need. People need money for various reasons such as quick holiday cash to buy gifts and presents for loved ones or pay bills on time without late fees, outstanding charges, etc. A short-term loan between paychecks can help people make their way out of an urgent financial situation.

Garden of Life

The amount of preservatives found in food is worrisome. These synthetic stuff seems to be in almost everything we eat. Greens have pesticides, unless you grow your own. If you get out, your food will be spiced with MSG, lots of it sometimes and you end up guzzling down gallons of water to quench that thirst.

Fast food is the rage these days. These food is fast, delicious and packed with little nutritional value. Thank goodness for food supplements which provides us the missing nutrients to keep us well and healthy. When it comes to food supplements, garden of life comes to mind among others.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Friday Frolics: How Rare Is Your Personality?




Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISTP)



Your personality type is reserved, methodical, spirited, and intense.



Only about 6% of all people have your personality, including 3% of all women and 8% of all men

You are Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving.




Check out other Friday Frolics

Nike Shoes, Louis Vuitton Bags at Ridiculous Prices

Thinking about getting a pair of sports shoes? I found this site that has discounts as much as 54% off! No kidding. Kickstime.com has stocks for Nike Air Jordans I-XX2, Air Dunks, Air Force 1's, Bapes, LRG, BBC & Bape Hoodies. They also have Red Monkey Jeans, Coach Handbags, Chanel sun glasses, New Era fitted caps and much much more, all at ridiculously low prices, and with free shipping too!


Most online shops do not provide a number where you can reach them but this shop does. It has a toll-free number where you can call in 7 hours, 5 days a week to make an enquiry or place an order. You'll get to speak to a knowledgable, polite representative. They charge no shipping & handling, no tax, no hidden fees. What you see is what you pay.

The Crazy Summer Sale is on. To give you an idea of how low their prices are, a pair of Nike Air Jordan is going for only $79.95 vs the usual price of $175.00. And their Louis Vuitton bags are going for also $79.95 each vs the usual price of $650.00. That's a huge 88% discount!

If you'll excuse me, I gotta go spread the news.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Switch to Digital Photo Frames

With digital cameras and camera phones being part of our everyday life, picture-taking is now at a new level and we no longer need to print out our photos.

These days we can even have them on digital picture frames and have them placed at wherever location we wish. They can be on our desk or even mounted on the wall.

Digital photo frames come in various sizes. You can pick any size ranging from a 7" frame to a 10" for bigger pictures. With a digital photo frame, not only can you view photos, you can also view movies, DVIX, XVID and MP3s, all at your convenience of time and place.

Digitalframez-au.com is an online electronic store specializing in LCD digital photo frames in Australia. Check out their Best Sellers. They are even giving away a free 256MB SD Memory card with every order of a 10" digital frame.

Purchase your digital photo frame today and it will be shipped out tomorrow and they ship worldwide. You can even call them to place your order or make enquiries.

For the Fashion-conscious

Scarves make great gifts especially Silk Scarves. They are so versatile and can be used in so many ways. How do you use your scarves? Do you know there are many different ways of tying a scarf? Check them out at Belisi.com.

Other great gifts for the fashion-conscious ladies include handbags, purses, fashion accessories, clothing and lots more. As for men, neckties would top my list followed by shirts and other fashion accessories.

Want to know the latest in fashion, beauty and shopping? Want to know what's Men’s Fashion Don’ts for the Office or How to tie a tie or handbag styles for women? All of these and more can be found on Belisi blogs.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Kuttappa's Robot

I've always wondered why we are not created like Pinnochio in that every time we tell a lie or commit a bad deed, we get whacked immediately after. With crime rates soaring, those baddies really need the kick. Here's something for a laugh along the same lines.

One day Kuttappa's dad bought a robot.

The robot was special in that it could
detect a lie and would slap the
person who lied on the face.

Kuttappa returned late from school
that day and his dad asked him,
'Son why are you late from school'?

Kuttappa answered, 'Dad we had extra
classes today'.

Much to his astonishment the Robot
jumped up and slapped Kuttappa on his
face.

His dad told him son this robot is
special in that he can detect a lie
and will then slap the person who lied
now come on tell me the truth,

'Why are you late?'

'Dad I went for a movie',

'Which movie?'

'The Ten Commandments',

Splatt! Kuttappa got a tight slap on
the face from the robot.

'No dad honest I went for the movie
Sex Queen.'

Shame on you son when I was your age I
never used to do such shameful things.

'Splatt, the dad gets a tight slap on
the face from the robot.

Hearing all this, Kuttappa's mother
comes walking out of the kitchen
saying, '

'After all he is your son', to which
the robot steps up and gives a
resounding slap on Kuttappa¢s mothers
face